The board recited the school mission. 

No public comment.

Application for new board member - Maria Porto - Q&A

- Finance world for 30+ years

- Long-time Lowell resident, now lives in Pelham.

- Attended Lowell Public and Lowell Catholic

- Children attended Lowell Public Schools

- Loves to cook, bake, and drive kids around

- Work at United Mitochondrial Research 

- Previously worked at Jean D'Arc, Lowell School Dept.

- Served on multiple boards previously as President and member, Athletics at Lowell Catholic

- Focused on boards in fundraising 

Discussion of additional applicant - David Leighton

Review of resume.

- Works at Lowell Five

- Grew up in Lowell

- Attended Lowell High

- Resides in Medford

Will invite David to the August 2025 meeting to meet with the Board of Trustees.

No further information on applicant Erin Rourke.  C. Nystrom will follow up with applicant.

Review of Finance Sub-committee held prior to Regular Meeting.

• Review of budget vs. actual
• Review of FY 2025 End of Year
• Review of balance sheet

Questions:

• Health plan up due to higher staffing.  Currently reviewing rate with vendor.
• Net profit accrual due to teacher salaries paid out through August.
• US Bank on balance sheet, regarding bond, is interest earned? Yes, at CD rate, which lowers our payment each year. 

Note: we now offer pet insurance for our employees. 

No sub-committee update.

No sub-committee update.

Update provided by C. Nystrom.

• Summer painting has started - stairwells, 4th floor of MS and 3rd floor new STEM lab
• Removal of wall on 3rd floor to create STEM lab in MS tower
• Awaiting plans for maintenance garage for facilities storage, likely Spring 2026 install
• Outdoor concessions stand/shed being installed in August 2025
• Rubber roof membrane install pending
• HVAC unit replacement being solicited
• MADOT public info night on July 15th at Collegiate regarding Rourke Bridge Construction

Question - bathroom access during outside games on field.  There is a port-a-potty by the field, locked and secured with padlock with code for use during games. 

Discussion to schedule sub-committee meeting for summer to check-in on goals.

Scheduled for morning of July 23rd at 10:00 a.m.

Summer Programming:

• Summer School, Extended School Year for students with disabilities
• Previously had 3-week summer camp, but wasn't providing what was needed for our families
  • Girls Inc. camp being hosted at Collegiate for MS and HS (about 30 students)
    • Possibly additional overnight opportunity provided, more info to be confirmed
  • Conducted survey for other options
    • About 35 families K-8 open to fee-based 3–4-week summer camp

Marketing/Partnerships:

• Partnership with Girls, Inc. - possibly future possibilities, grant opportunities. 
• Visited by Draper Labs, Head of Education Dept., possibly internship being explored
• Lowell Sun articles
  • High School Graduation
  • Ad in Sunday paper showing graduating class of 2025
  • Spotlight articles on 6 graduating students

Academic Update:

• Review of measure and goals for new board members
  • Set goal of 75% of students receiving passing grades, college readiness, and 90% attendance rate or higher, and 10% or lower in chronic absenteeism, and discipline 
  • Update monthly at meeting to show board internal progress
• All finals wrapped up, grades entered, report cards being printed
  • Students have done well in ELA and math
  • Students who didn't meet or exceed, invited to attend summer school
    • Currently 70-80 students Gr. K-11 invited to summer school
    • Summer school July 7th - 31st
• Attendance
  • All grades daily average attendance exceeded goal
  • Chronic absenteeism has dropped at all levels
• Suspensions
  • Dropped month-to-month in K-5 and 6-8, risen slightly in 9-12
  • Restorative workshops being attended over the summer by administrators

MAP Results:

• Students K-10 take exam 3x per year
  • Math K-2 in 61-73rd percentile, all 3 grades made exceptional growth from Fall to Spring
  • ELA K-2 in 38-55th percentile.  More work to be done, but growth is being made.
    • Plan in place to further support students in EL and Special Ed, reinforcement of co-teaching model for 2025-26
  • Science 3-10, progress being made

Review of drafted Board Meeting Calendar for 2025-26

• Discussion about possible change of day due to board member conflict with Tuesdays

No further business.

Update on Yonder plan for students in August return to school.

A. Bakr provided an update to the new board members.

• Grades 5-12
• Meetings in August with students